Jess’ Underground Kitchen (JUK) are disrupting the freezer category with their new range of ready-made meals, JUK Gourmet Everyday™.
Launching into supermarkets in May 2020, during the first COVID-19 lockdown, the range has been rolling out in Foodstuffs stores across the North Island with strong month-on-month sales growth. With a focus on high-quality ingredients and bold flavours, it’s not surprising that these meals have been so well received by buyers and consumers alike.
Handmade in small batches by a team of real chefs, JUK use only the freshest ingredients and free-range meats in their meals, sitting as a premium option in the frozen meal category. The full range consists of nine meat-based SKUs and five plant-based SKUs with contemporary flavours and something to suit every tastebud, young and old. Many of the meals are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, appealing to consumers looking for nutritious, delicious and convenient meal options. The full range is generously portioned at 400g per serve and each meal is reheatable from frozen in less than 5 minutes.
Jess’ Underground Kitchen has been operating in the ready-meal market since 2013 with a direct-to-consumer meal delivery model across the North Island and four bricks-and-mortar stores in Auckland. Started around Founder Jess Daniell’s kitchen table, it didn’t take long to realise that there was a gap in the market for fresh and healthy convenience food. With a passion for cooking but no formal training, Daniell navigated her way around the building blocks of food production to create a range of products that taste and feel like they’ve been created in a home kitchen – her week night dinners but for hundreds instead of one.
JUK Gourmet Everyday™ is developed specifically with supermarket shoppers in mind. Snap frozen to lock in freshness, and handmade in small batches for the true taste of home cooking. With an increasing demand from consumers for convenience and quality, there is no doubt that the ready-meal category is growing and JUK offers a drawcard to bring a new, contemporary audience to the freezer aisle.
The brand has just launched five new plant-based SKUs – and have seen a lot of excitement from buyers around these products. Speciality SKUs like the vegan range and gluten-free options allow stores to grow their offerings within the health & wellness category as well as in the freezer. JUK is utilising interesting meat-alternative ingredients like tempeh, jackfruit and tofu to add substance and nutritional value to their plant-based SKUs.
The full JUK Gourmet Everyday™ range includes the following meals: Balsamic Roast Beef with Potato Gratin, Beef Bourguignon with Creamy Mash, Thai Beef Massaman Curry, Beef Brisket Burrito Bowl, Pulled Pork & Fennel Ragu with Pappardelle, Greek Lamb Cottage Pie, Satay Chicken Noodle Bowl, Teriyaki Chicken Bento Bowl, Moroccan Chicken Shepherd’s Pie, Vegan Coconut & Chickpea Curry, Vegan Jackfruit Massaman Curry, Vegan Tempeh Singapore Noodles, Vegan Thai Green Tofu Curry, Vegan Jackfruit & Fennel Ragu with Pappardelle.
The freezer is just the start for JUK and their team of talented chefs with exciting NDP in the pipeline – including a kids’ meal range and a baking range. Look out for the fresh, new brand in a freezer near you.
For more information about becoming a stockist, please contact Lynley Webb, National Channel Manager, lynley@juk.co.nz or 021842449
www.gourmeteveryday.co.nz | www.juk.co.nz | 21 Gordon Road, Morningside, Auckland | 09 815 1185
